How adorable are these cards? Since I'm prone to gasps, shrieks, superlatives and general over-enthusiasm, they're right up my alley.Tuesday, 18 January 2011
Oh my goodness, I'm in love with this beautiful room. Everything from the vintage frames to the topiary to the flickering candles are just gorgeous, don't you think? But most of all, I adore that hanging bulb. Any idea where you might find one?Update: Here's the rest of the house. It's from a real-estate listing in Sweden, believe it or not!
(Photo by Alvhem, via Abbey)
Friday, 14 January 2011
My lovelies, what are you up to this weekend? Alex and I are having a couple friends over for games and cocktails, and Toby is thisclose to crawling and practicing non-stop! It's really cute to watch, although every two seconds he does a giant face plant. Hope you have a wonderful weekend, and here are a few great posts from around the web...The yummiest New Year's Resolution? Bake a cake every month!
A homemade board book.
Funny T-shirt for grown-ups.
Cute onesies.
Grapes + chocolate.
Fabulous wallpaper.
Future husbands, take note.
Mmmm, don't you wish we could beam ourselves here?
Wow, this antique ring looks like a fancier version of my engagement ring!
Have a good one, my darlings, and take gentle care of yourselves. xoxo
(Photo credit unknown, via Lost and Modern Nostalgic)
A few readers asked where we stayed in Los Angeles, and I'd love to share: We were lucky enough to stay at the Oceana Santa Monica, which was one of the nicest places we'd ever stayed. We booked a two-room suite through the amazing (and addictive!) website Mr. and Mrs. Smith, so that we could stay up and hang out after Toby went to bed (at his cute 7pm bedtime:). The rooms were beautiful and and homey; our bed was insanely comfortable, and the hotel was right next to the beach.But the biggest plus was the service. Every time we walked into the hotel, they would say, "Hello, Ms. Goddard! Did you enjoy your walk?" or "How was your lunch? How's Toby doing?" Fancy! I was amazed that they remembered our names, and they'd coo and chit-chat with Toby for as long as he wanted. :) The staff made the hotel feel so personal. One night, we invited friends over to play games, and we wanted to order pizza, so I called room service, and the guy answered the phone, "Hello, Ms. Goddard! How can I help you?" and when I asked for a recommendation for a pizza place, he brought up local menus, along with bowls of crushed red pepper and grated parmesan. How sweet is that? Those little touches make such a difference, especially when you have a baby. We can't wait to go back next year.
Anyway, we really loved it and would highly recommend it if you're planning a trip to L.A.! :)
Loving this new Tumblr about celebs riding bikes. What fun! Now I'm itching to shovel my bike out from under the snow and go for a winter ride.P.S. How cute were Joanne Woodward and Paul Newman together?
P.P.S. I love how Ringo always looks like he's twelve.
(Via Design is Mine)
Thursday, 13 January 2011
Today's giveaway is from BrideBlu Jewelry, an adorable--and amazingly affordable--jewelry shop. The designer is offering one lucky reader a $50 gift certificate, so you could treat yourself to some pretty pieces for the winter. I'd go for this sweet star necklace and turquoise earrings (don't you love that color?!)For a chance to win, please visit BrideBlu Jewelry and leave a comment below. A winner will be chosen at random tomorrow. Good luck! xo
Update: Holly K. is our lucky winner. Thanks for playing. (Plus, a bonus for all readers: Get 15% off your purchase by entering "CUP15" at checkout. Good for the month of January.)
Wednesday, 12 January 2011
On our Christmas vacation, after spending the four days in L.A., we headed to Palm Springs to meet Alex's mom and sister. We all stayed together at this rental house. The house was totally tricked out--with a huge pool, a waterfall, a hammock, a fireplace, and toilet seats that automatically opened when you walked into the bathroom (seriously, they had sensors!). Bonus: Crazily enough, it was actually cheaper per person than a budget motel.
We took Toby swimming for the first time. He sort of loved it for a few minutes...and then decided he hated it. :)
One morning, I took a quick shower and came outside to find Toby and Alex playing "helicopter."
I have to say, it made my heart swell a little bit :)
Here's the Toby-eye-view!
Toby loved chilling with his grandma. And check out the mountain views! The desert is so gorgeous. (We heard a freaky story about a now-infamous tourist couple who took the tram up the mountain and then decided to stroll back into town. "It's just a short walk," they figured. "Doesn't our hotel look close from up here?" All they had was a pack of chewing gum, and no maps or hiking gear. Five days later, they were rescued.)
Right before Christmas, we thought it would be cool to take a family photo, inspired by these old shadow shots. It didn't really work, but we tried!
Another morning, we went to Ruby's Diner, and Toby tried mashed banana for the first time.
Despite a valiant attempt...
...he was not impressed. (His expression cracks me up.)
Another afternoon, Alex, Toby and I snuck off for a couple hours and went to the Ace Hotel & Swim Club, which has a rad pool and is amazingly family- and dog-friendly.
Alex immediately got a beer and parked himself by the hot tub.
Toby and I hung out on deck chairs...
...and dipped our feet into the gorgeous pool. Everyone there was really friendly and chatty; it felt like being at a party. :)
And on the walk home, Toby fell asleep in the stroller... 
...and since he'd wake up if we stopped moving, we had to keep going...
...so we walked in circles around a cul-de-sac...
...over and over...
...for a half hour...
...ahhh, vacations with a baby! :) It was a wonderful, restorative trip and made us much more confident about family travel and, honestly, parenting in general. Sometimes it takes a break in your routine to show you what you can do. Thanks so much for reading! Have you been to Palm Springs? A couple other favorite things: Renting fat-tired bikes, everything on the lunch menu at Cheeky's, and the local speciality: delicious date milkshakes. Any other tips, my lovelies?
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